Lausanne, Switzerland, June 17, 2018 - Reigining European champions Russa are after their fifth straight win in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League when they come up against pool hosts Germany in Ludwigsburg, Sunday. And the Russians have not lost to Germany in five years, since the 2013 FIVB World League. The overall record between the two sides (including as Soviet Union / CIS and as East / West Germany) at world level stands at 22-5 for the Russians.
Head-to-Head
• Germany won only one of their last 11 matches against Russia at world level major competitions, the 3-2 victory on 6 July 2013 at the World League.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Most recently these teams met at a major competition at the 2014 World Championships, when Russia beat Germany 3-0.
• In total these teams have met 27 times at world level major competitions (including East Germany and West Germany, and Soviet Union and CIS), with Russia winning 22 times and Germany winning five times.
Germany
• Germany beat Argentina 3-1 on Saturday, ending a run of successive defeats.
• Germany's record at the 2018 VNL now stands at W5-L6.
• Of Germany's last 25 victories at world level major tournaments, none came in five sets. They last beat a team 3-2 at the 2014 World League, when they beat Argentina in five sets.
• Germany's last two world level defeats, however, came by a 3-2 scoreline. They lost in five sets to Japan (15 June) and Australia (10 June) this VNL campaign.
• Simon Hirsch and Tobias Krick both scored four points from stuff blocks against Argentina on Saturday.
Russia
• Russia beat Japan 3-0 on Saturday, claiming their fourth successive victory.
• Russia last won more consecutive matches at a world level major tournament at the 2015 World Cup (then 6).
• Russia's current winning streak came about without beating a European nation, as they won against China, Iran, Argentina and Japan.
• Of that six-match winning streak at the 2015 World Cup, also no victory was gained against a European opponent, as they beat Tunisia, Argentina, Iran, Australia, Canada and Egypt before losing to Italy.
• Dmitriy Muserskiy led Russia in scoring against Japan on Saturday, totalling 18 points.